1. Infection Control Introduction to Health Care Science

2. Basic Principals of Infection Control
How disease is transmitted and the main ways to prevent transmission.
Microorganisms are small living organisms invisible to the naked eye
Two types of microorganisms
1. Pathogens
2. Nonpathogens

3. Essential Questions
What factors affect asepsis in the health care environment?
How can I maintain asepsis?
What is the chain of infection?

4. GPS: HS-IHS-11
a. evaluate the need for asepsis in the health care environment
b. differentiate between cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing
c. analyze ways microorganisms are spread using the chain of infection model and analyze methods to destroy/control the spread of microorganisms

5. What are microorganisms?
Microorganisms are small living organisms invisible to the naked eye
There are five classes of microorganisms
Bacteria, protozoa, fungi, rickettsiae,
and viruses.

6. Classifications of microorganisms
Bacteria – single one-celled, lack a true nucleus
cocci round MRSA, strepthroat
bacilli rods i.e. TB, pertussis, botulism
spirilla spirals i.e. syphilis, cholera
Bacterial infections- diarrhea, pneumonia, sinusitis, UTIs, gonorrhea
Protozoa- single celled organism, infection is spread through contaminated food/H2O,or insect bite
Protozoal infections- malaria,gastroenteritis
Fungi – plant-like organisms that grow in single cells as in yeasts or in colonies as in molds
Fungal infections- Ringworm, thrush, athlete’s foot

7. Microorganisms (cont.)
Rickettsiae- intracellular parasites, need to be in living cells to reproduce, carried by lice, ticks, fleas
Parasitic infections-Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Typhus
Viruses - cannot reproduce without a cell,
major risk to healthcare workers and are
blood borne
Viral infections- Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, HIV, measles, common cold, West Nile, Influenza

8. Factors for Growth of Microorganisms
Most prefer warm, moist or wet, dark environment i.e. the human body
Oxygen needs vary
anaerobic - needs no oxygen
aerobic - needs oxygen

9. Pathogenic Microorganisms
Cause diseases in different ways
produce poisonous toxins
allergic reactions
attack and destroy the cells
antibiotics are effective against bacteria not against viruses

10. Classes of Diseases and Infections
Endogenous
inside the body
i.e. tumors, congenital disorders
Exogenous
outside the body
i.e. trauma, electric shock

11. Medical Terminology FYI …
Endo means inside
Exo means outside
Congenital means birth – born with it

12. Classes of Diseases and Infections (cont)
Nosocomial
an infection acquired in healthcare facilities
i.e. staph, MRSA, pseudomonas
Opportunistic
infections that only affect the
immunosuppressed (compromised immune
system)
i.e. Kaposi’s sarcoma, pneumocystis carnii

13. Chain of Infection
Causative agent (pathogen, bacteria, virus)
Reservoir (place to live) i.e. human body.
Portal of exit (the way the pathogen escapes) i.e. urine, feces, secretions
Mode of transmission (transmitted to a reservoir or a host)
- Direct or Indirect

14. Mode of Transmissions
Direct
person to person
sexual
contaminated hands
Indirect
touching contaminated equipment or objects
breathing droplets suspenden in air
insect bites

15. anyone who can contract the disease weak immune systems
Chain of Infection (cont.)
Portal of Entry
a way to enter a new host or new reservoir ( i.e. respiratory tract, breaks in the skin, mucous membranes, etc.)
Susceptible Host
anyone who can contract the disease
weak immune systems
anyone with a breakdown in defense
mechanisms

16. Infectious Agent
Portal of Exit
Reservoir
Mode of Transmission
Portal of Entry
Susceptible Host

17. Ending the chain
Breaking the chain:
Use aseptic technique (asepsis)
Best is hand washing
Levels or types of asepsis:
antiseptics, disinfection, sterilization
Antiseptics used in healthcare alcohol
and betadine